Gut microbial production of imidazole propionate drives Parkinson's pathologies.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the selective degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and aggregation of α-synuclein. Emerging evidence implicates the gut microbiome in PD, with microbial metabolites proposed as potential pathological mediators. However, the specific microbes and metabolites involved, and whether gut-derived metabolites can reach the brain to directly induce neurodegeneration, remain unclear.

Comparative Effectiveness of Continuous Intra-Operative Suprascapular Nerve Block (CI-SSNB) with and Without Intravenous Patient-Controlled Analgesia (IV-PCA) on Acute Post-Arthroscopy Pain: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) is commonly used for pain control following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR), but its use is limited by adverse effects such as nausea and vomiting. The suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) has emerged as an effective regional analgesic alternative. This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare the analgesic efficacy and safety of continuous intra-operative suprascapular nerve block (CI-SSNB) alone versus CI-SSNB combined with fentanyl-based IV-PCA (CI-SSNB + IV-PCA).

Engineering modular enzyme assembly: synthetic interface strategies for natural products biosynthesis applications.

Covering: 2020 to 2025Natural products remain indispensable sources of therapeutic and bioactive compounds, yet traditional discovery strategies are constrained by compound rediscovery. Modular biosynthetic enzymes, such as type I polyketide synthases (PKSs) and type A non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), offer promising platforms for combinatorial biosynthesis owing to their programmable architectures. However, practical implementation is frequently limited by inter-modular incompatibility and domain-specific interactions.

Crystal Structure and Functional Characterization of YjgK From Salmonella Typhimurium.

The YhcH/YjgK/YiaL (DUF386) family, widely conserved across bacterial species, is involved in essential cellular processes yet remains poorly characterized. YjgK from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium has drawn attention because of its potential role in biofilm formation associated with metal homeostasis, which may be critical for bacterial survival. In this study, we report the crystal structure of YjgK at 1.

Regulatory orchestration of FK506 biosynthesis in NRRL 18488 revealed through systematic analysis.

NRRL 18488, the primary producer of the immunosuppressant FK506, was analyzed to elucidate regulatory features of secondary metabolism. Completion of its 7.9-Mb linear genome enabled accurate re-annotation of the FK506 biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC).

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of heat-killed Lactococcus lactis KC24 via modulation of NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways in HO-stressed A549 cells.

Oxidative stress can contribute to various chronic diseases due to the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The lungs are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress caused by environmental and intrinsic factors, and likely to cause asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. Lactococcus lactis KC24, isolated from kimchi, has been reported to exert neuroprotective effects as a heat-killed paraprobiotic.

The Preparation and Properties of Volatile Tris(‑Alkoxycarboxamidato)chromium(III) Complexes as Potential Single-Source Precursors for the MOCVD of Crystalline Chromium Oxide Thin Films.

The synthesis, characterization, and vapor-phase growth of volatile Cr-(III) complexes as single-source precursors for CrO thin films are reported. A series of Cr complexesCr-(mdpa) (mdpa = -methoxy-2,2-dimethylpropanamide) (), Cr-(edpa) (edpa = -ethoxy-2,2-dimethylpropanamide) (), Cr-(empa) (empa = -ethoxy-2-methylpropanamide) (), and Cr-(mpa) (mpa = -methoxypropanamide) ()were synthesized via salt elimination reactions between CrCl·3THF and -alkoxy carboxamidate salts. These complexes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD), Hirshfeld surface analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and vapor pressure measurement.

Recombinant antibodies from clonally expanded cancer-associated plasma cells.

Although the clinical significance of plasma cells within tumors has been recognized, studies on the development of plasma cells and the characteristics of the antibodies they secrete within the tumor microenvironment remain limited. We investigated the properties of plasma cells within cancer tissues using single-cell RNA and single cell B cell receptor sequencing. We characterized plasma cells exhibiting clonal expansion and synthesized the antibodies produced by these cells, confirming the clinical relevance of immunoglobulin H (IGH) isotypes.

Prefrontal meta-control incorporating mental simulation enhances the adaptivity of reinforcement learning agents in dynamic environments.

Introduction: Recent advances in computational neuroscience highlight the significance of prefrontal cortical meta-control mechanisms in facilitating flexible and adaptive human behavior. In addition, hippocampal function, particularly mental simulation capacity, proves essential in this adaptive process. Rooted from these neuroscientific insights, we present , a novel neuroscience-inspired reinforcement learning architecture that demonstrates rapid adaptation to environmental dynamics whilst managing variable goal states and state-transition uncertainties.

High-Performance Solution Processable Red TADF-OLED with External Quantum Efficiency Exceeding 28% Using a Multi-Resonance Emitter Host.

Achieving high-efficiency soluble red thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters remains a substantial challenge owing to the constraints imposed by the energy-gap law. In this study, an asymmetric pyrene-azaacene derivative, named PBCNT, is prepared and characterized, featuring a strong electron-donating tert-butyl diphenylamine moiety and an electron-withdrawing cyano group. PBCNT exhibits intense red emission with a peak wavelength of 664 nm in a toluene solution.

Mosaic H3K9me3 at BREACHes predicts synaptic gene expression associated with fragile X syndrome cognitive severity.

Diseases vary in clinical presentation across individuals despite the same molecular diagnosis. In fragile X syndrome (FXS), mutation-length expansion of a CGG short tandem repeat (STR) in causes reduced gene expression and FMRP loss. Nevertheless, and FMRP are limited predictors of adaptive functioning and cognition in FXS patients, suggesting that molecular correlates of clinical measures would add diagnostic value.

Heat-killed Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WB3813 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WB3814 Alleviate LPS-Induced Inflammatory Damage and Apoptosis in A549 Cells.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic lung inflammation and apoptosis. Although paraprobiotics are known for their beneficial effects on respiratory health, research on their effect on COPD is limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of heat-killed Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WB3813 and Lact.

Preclinical studies and transcriptome analysis in a model of Parkinson's disease with dopaminergic ZNF746 expression.

Background: The parkin-interacting substrate (PARIS, also known as ZNF746) is a transcriptional repressor, whose accumulation and phosphorylation play central pathological roles in Parkinson's disease (PD). PARIS-induced transcriptional repression of PGC-1α or MDM4 contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction and p53-dependent neuron loss in PD. Despite the important role of PARIS in PD pathogenesis, unbiased transcriptomic profiles influenced by PARIS accumulation in dopaminergic neurons remain unexplored.

Fundamental modeling of microbial electrosynthesis system using porous electrodes for CO-to-acetate conversion.

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is an emerging carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology that converts CO into value-added chemicals using microbial catalysts powered by electrical energy. Advancing MES toward commercialization requires rigorous mathematical models for process optimization and scale-up. This study presents a fundamental model for an MES system designed to produce acetate from CO incorporating real-world experimental conditions.

Korean Red Ginseng Marc-Derived Gintonin Improves Alzheimer's Cognitive Dysfunction by Upregulating LPAR1.

Ginseng is a well-established functional food for brain health. However, its active ingredients have not yet been identified. Gintonin is a promising compound isolated from white/red ginseng.

Development and external validation of a machine learning model to predict the initial dose of vancomycin for targeting an area under the concentration-time curve of 400-600 mg∙h/L.

Purpose: To develop and validate a novel artificial intelligence model for predicting the initial empiric dose of vancomycin, with the aim of achieving an area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of 400-600 mg∙h/L, using individual clinical data.

Methods: Machine learning models were developed and validated internally and externally using data from adult patients who received intravenous vancomycin treatment between November 2020 and June 2023, using records from July to September 2023, sourced from two hospitals. This study included 205, 44, and 35 patients in the training, internal validation, and external validation sets, respectively.

Direct Tensile Testing of Free-Standing Ultrathin Polymer Films on Liquid Surface at High Temperature.

The fragile nature of ultrathin polymer films poses a challenge for precise mechanical property measurements in a free-standing state, despite their critical importance for the fabrication and performance of advanced electronic devices under thermal loading. Here, a novel high-temperature tensile testing method for free-standing ultrathin polymer films using a film on heated liquid (FOHL) platform is proposed. Glycerol is chosen for the thermally stable liquid platform for its high surface tension, high boiling point, miscibility with water, and chemical stability.

Ginseng and ginseng byproducts for skincare and skin health.

Ginseng is a traditional herbal medicine with a long history of use for the prevention and/or treatment of various diseases. Ginseng is used worldwide as a functional food to maintain human health. In addition, ginseng has been used as a raw ingredient in cosmetics with various applications, ranging from skin toning to anti-aging.

Paraprobiotic Levilactobacillus brevis KU15151 exhibits antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities in LPS-induced A549 cells.

Levilactobacillus brevis KU15151, isolated from kimchi, has been reported in previous studies to possess probiotic properties. Here, we sought to explore the potential of heat-killed L. brevis KU15151 in improving respiratory health by identifying its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-induced A549 cells.

Dual inhibition of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase interacting multifunctional protein-2 and α-synuclein by steroid derivative is neuroprotective in Parkinson's model.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase interacting multifunctional protein-2 (AIMP2), a parkin substrate, possesses self-aggregating properties, potentiating α-synuclein aggregation and neurotoxicity in PD. Thus, targeting both α-synuclein and AIMP2 would present an effective treatment for PD pathologies. Herein, we developed small compounds with dual inhibitory activity against AIMP2 and α-synuclein.

Gintonin Stimulates Glucose Uptake in Myocytes: Involvement of Calcium and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling.

Ginseng has anti-hyperglycemic effects. Gintonin, a glycolipoprotein derived from ginseng, also stimulates insulin release from pancreatic beta cells. However, the role of gintonin in glucose metabolism within skeletal muscle is unknown.

Antimicrobial effect of combined preservatives using chestnut inner shell, cinnamon, and ε-poly-lysine against food-poisoning bacteria .

Chestnut inner shell, cinnamon, and ε-poly-lysine (ε-PL) have been used for natural preservative of food grade, and combined preservatives (CP) has been formulated previously. This study examined whether growth could be controlled using CP in tryptic soy broth (TSB). CP inhibited growth by about 5 log CFU/mL in TSB.